Lukas Podolski Podolski's career could have taken a very different course as he was born in Poland in 1985, but it was Germany who handed him his first cap in June 2004 at...

Olivier Giroud The forward started his career at Grenoble, joining the club at the age of 13. Six years later, he was rewarded with his first professional contract. After impressing for the side's...

Thomas Rosicky An energetic, attacking midfielder with a penchant for the spectacular and an impressive range of passing, Rosicky made his professional debut for Sparta Prague in 1998 and was an instant success,...

Abou Diaby After graduating from France's famous Clairefontaine academy in 2002, Diaby struggled for regular first-team football with Auxerre and joined Arsenal as a promising 19-year-old in January 2006. Though his arrival was...

Gervinho Gervinho was linked with a move to the Premier League after winning the French title with Lille and completed a reported £10.5 million move to Arsenal in July 2011, claiming it was...